East African Gov't Urged to Legalize Homosexual Activity
By: Administrative Account | Source: CNSNews.com
October 9, 2003 9:08PM EST

By Stephen Mbogo
CNSNews.com Correspondent
October 09, 2003

Nairobi, Kenya (CNSNews.com) - Homosexuals in Uganda are campaigning to have their government make constitutional changes to decriminalize homosexual activity.

A group representing Ugandan homosexuals has told the government that if it does not meet their demands for legal protection and recognition, it will form a political party to cater to homosexuals' interests.

Under Ugandan law, homosexuals may be charged for unnatural offences.

In a letter to the government, Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Uganda representative Stephen Lule also called for the legalization of same-sex unions.

The alliance urged President Yoweri Museveni to read a selection of books which it says will help disprove theories that homosexuality is unnatural and "unAfrican."

"If you fail to honor our request, we will be forced to form our political party to represent our interests," said the letter, copies of which were sent to political and human rights groups.

The party would seek alliances with other political forces likely to be sympathetic, said Lule.

Uganda describes itself as a "one-party democracy." It allows the existence of various political parties, but the present constitution outlaws party activism.

A new constitution currently being drafted is expected to drop the ban, allowing free political activity in time for the next presidential elections, scheduled for 2006.

The Ugandan cabinet recently made a series of proposals to a commission that is reviewing the constitution, the most significant of which limits presidential tenure to two terms.

The homosexuals' group complained that the government's proposals did not address their concerns.

Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Janat Mukwaya gave notice that there would not be changes in that area, advising homosexuals to be guided by the present constitution, which outlaws homosexuality.

"I don't think gays have a right in our Constitution," Mukwaya said, when commenting on the letter.

The Anglican Church in East Africa has come out firmly against homosexuality.

In neighboring Kenya, the head of the Anglican Church in Nairobi, the Rev. Peter Njoka, said it would be wrong to give homosexuals "a platform" like a political party.

He urged Christians in Uganda to speak out strongly in opposing the homosexuals' demands.

Uganda's official stance on homosexuality has frequently come under fire from human rights groups.

The Uganda Human Rights Commission encouraged the alliance to continue lobbying, but warned that forming a political party now would make their activities illegal.

Last June, a U.S. homosexual lobby group Integrity USA, promised assistance to a local chapter called Integrity Uganda, to help it to expand its activities throughout the country.

Integrity USA has also offered to help the Ugandans organize a continental conference of homosexual Anglicans.

Museveni has come out strongly against changing the law. He claimed there were only "a few" homosexuals in Uganda, and that they were "coming out because of the example of sexual disorientation" set in the U.S. and Europe.

Some time ago, Museveni caused a storm when he ordered that homosexuals planning same-sex unions be arrested.

The directive was condemned at the time by the State Department, which said in a statement it viewed the arrest and imprisonment of persons based on sexual orientation "as a serious human rights violation, regardless of whether such arrests are sanctioned by Ugandan legislation."

Uganda is party to various international agreements on human rights, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which stipulates that "all persons are equal before the law and are entitled without discrimination to the equal protection of the law."

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